Fees May Pay For City's Ems

Lhp Must Hold Public Hearings Before Commission's Final Decision

November 17, 1996|By BRIDGETTE L. RALLO SPECIAL TO THE SUN-SENTINEL

In what was described by Mayor Bill Sullivan as a "new philosophy" on finding basic government services, the City Commission agreed to switch from as valorem taxes to a flat fee to pay major cost increases in the city's Emergency Medical Services program.

The argumant over whicj structure is the most equitable to taxpayers appeared to center on the concept of a "flatter, fairer tax," to quote Commissioner Lynne Spinella, or the traditional funding mechanism of billing for services according to the value of a resident's property.

Commissioners Tom Hasis and Marsha Trivigno agreed with Sullivan that the availability of ambulances staffed by emergency medical personnel is a basic government service on a par with police and fire protection and, as such, should be funded through property taxes.

But Spinella, along with fellow Commissioner Dan Oates and Paul Zalesky, strongly dissented. What's the relationship between the value of a man's house and the service he receives?" Oates asked.

"Nothing," replied Sullivan.

He stressed that there is no relationship between police, fire, parks and recreation or any of the other basic services provided by government and the value of someone's property.

"What you're paying for," Sullivan later explained, "is the availability of emergency service. You're paying to maintain the fire department, to keep the personnel in a state of readiness. You still have to pay for transport in an ambulance later. That hasn't changed."

Also debated by commissioners was the percentage to be paid by both residential and commercial taxpayers under the new fee schedule.

Recommendations by Sullivan and City Administrator Gerry Renuart out the figures at 85 percent for residents and 15 percent for commercial property owners, with condominium and single-family dwellers paying the same rate.

Once again, Spinella agreed.

She cited an expected increase in commercial usage due to the relocation of several new, higher volume businesses to the city and lobbied for a 60-40 distribution of costs.

The city's youngest commissioner settled for an 80-20 percent split, though , even though she believes that the likely construction of an Albertsons supermarket in Lighthouse Point will add to the volume of business calls for service.

Presently, the largest number, of commercial emergency calls come from the Publix Super Market at Venetian Isles. According to fire Chief John Livisky, a majority of the calls are for assistance to senior residents who feel faint after standing for long periods of time in the checkout line.

Costs to the average resident are expected to run about $34, while businesses measuring 1,500 square feet or less will pay more than $150. Business categories of up to 9,000 square feet and those over 9,000 square feet will pay progressively higher fees.

For single-family homes valued at $125,000 or less, the change to a free-based payment system means a higher charge of EMS service. Everyone else will pay less.

Now that commissioners decided to switch to the fee structure, the ciy must advertise its intention in a local newspaper and hold two public hearings on the matter before a final vote can be taken.

Sullivan, for one, is "very interested" in finding out how the public will react to the flatter tax concept embodied in a fee method of funding basic services.

"This is a big philosophical shift in how very basic services will be paid for" he said.

"It may just mean that we'll have to re-evaluate how all such services are funded in the future.